This document provides information on various topics related to academic writing, including supplies needed, using dictionaries, presentation guidelines, error correction methods, and distinguishing between summarizing and plagiarizing. It discusses the supplies students should have, such as pencils, notebooks, and textbooks. It also offers advice on using dictionaries effectively to learn new words as well as guidelines for neat presentation, including legible handwriting, double spacing, and proofreading. The document outlines different methods teachers may use to correct errors, such as codes and highlighting, and stresses the importance of rewriting assignments after receiving feedback. Finally, it provides examples to demonstrate how to summarize texts in your own words to avoid plagiarism.

1. Academic Writing
Topics:
1.Supplies
2.Using a Dictionary
3.Presentation
4.Error Correction
5.Summarizing vs. Plagiarising

2. 1. Supplies
• Pencil and Eraser
(hmmm, I wonder why?)
• Notebook
- To use for all note-taking
and in-class writing so
you can keep it as a
reference
- Also pages should be
removable to be given to
the teacher if wanted.
• Writing Textbook

3. 2. Using a Dictionary
• What are the benefits and drawbacks
to using a dictionary while writing?
• Consider monolingual and bilingual
dictionaries as well as book and
electronic forms.
• Brainstorm ideas with a partner.

4. 2. Using a Dictionary
PROS (+)
Learn new words
Learn synonyms
Learn collocations
Check spelling
It should be a dictionary
that provides English
synonyms and sample
sentences. A Turkish-
English dictionary is not
sufficient because it
doesn’t help you to learn
the word completely.
CONS (-)
Develop dependence
Waste time
Only learn translations
Not always available
It may be beneficial to use a
dictionary in the early stages
of learning to write, but you
should try to develop
independent writing skills
with time.

5. 2. Using a Dictionary
• You can’t find a word by only looking at
the Turkish/English translation.
• You also must check the word in the
English dictionary and see it used in a
sentence.
• Doing this extra step helps you to learn
the word rather than just use in at the
moment.

6. 3. Presentation
• Take some pride in the
appearance of the work you
create.
• All homework should be done on
a clean, whole piece of A4 paper.
• Whenever possible, homework
should be done on a computer,
and printed out to hand in.
Handwritten work is only
acceptable if it is neatly written.

7. Handwriting!
 If your teacher can’t read
your handwriting, s/he
can’t give you feedback.
 These are examples of
unacceptable handwriting
for homework
assignments.
 If your teacher can’t read
your handwriting, s/he
can’t give you feedback.
 These are examples of
unacceptable handwriting
for homework
assignments.
3. Presentation

8. Double Spacing
When writing anything that
you want your teacher to give
you feedback on (comments,
corrections, praise, or
advice), you should leave
enough space for the teacher
to also write on the paper. In
this text, there is no space for
someone to add any
comments or corrections.
The best way to get
feedback is to leave
space for comments by
double spacing your
writing, like this. It
takes more space but its
worth it.
When typing, use a line height
setting of 2.0 or higher. When
handwriting, use every other line
on your notebook paper.
When typing, use a line height
setting of 2.0 or higher. When
handwriting, use every other line
on your notebook paper.3. Presentation

9. Proofreading
Profreading mean checkingwhat you rite afterwards you
wrote it, looking for misteaks in spellling , grammmmar;
punctuation. structure, nd content…
If yo tape your homework in a computer,your profreading can
do wit the spellchecker availible in wrdprocessing softyear.
Yur langage must be set to Inglish!
Writing ALWAYS requires proofreading.
Your teacher’s job is not to correct every single
mistake you make, it is to focus on the most
important issues. It is YOUR JOB to make your
writing as good as you can before you hand it in.
3. Presentation

10. Proofreading
Proofreading mean checking what you write after you
write it, looking for mistakes in spellling, grammar,
punctuation, structure, and content.
If you type your homework on a computer, you can do
your proofreading with the spellchecker available in
word processing software.
Your language must be set to English!
This version looks a lot better, doesn’t it? There is a
difference between errors made because you are
learning the language and errors made because
you aren’t careful. BE CAREFUL.
3. Presentation

11. Punctuation – Typing Basics
. period / full stop – use at the end of a sentence. There
should be no space between the final word of the sentence
and the period. There should be one space after the period
and before the next sentence.
, comma – use in the middle of a sentence to separate
clauses. When used, there should be no space between the
word and the comma, and there should be one space after the
comma.
Get in the habit of using these correctly and your writing will
look much better! This is not just important for academic
writing, but also for professional-looking email.
3. Presentation

12. 4. Error Correction Methods
1. Using correction codes
2. Only correcting one type of problem
3. Just highlighting
4. Peer correction
Your teacher will use a variety of
different techniques to help you
improve your writing. The four above

13. 4. Error Correction Methods
1. Using correction codes – the teacher
will write these codes on your paper to
help you identify your mistakes. You
should use these when rewriting.
sp = spelling error
s/p = singular/plural error
vt = verb tense problem
wf = wrong form of the word used (noun, verb, adj)
ww = the word chosen is not suitable for the sentence
bw = there is a better word that you should know.

14. 4. Error Correction Methods
2. Only correcting one type of problem.
Your teacher may choose to focus on
just one aspect of your writing to help
you improve in that area.
• Structure - how your writing is organized
• Content – the ideas included in your writing
• Grammar – the accuracy of your writing
• Vocabulary – the variety and choice of words

15. 4. Error Correction Methods
3. Just highlighting.
After your teacher
has used correction
codes for a while,
s/he might just use
highlighting so that
you can recognize
your own mistakes,
especially if you have
been repeatedly
making the same
mistakes without
improvement.

16. 4. Error Correction Methods
4. Peer correction
Working with classmates to review and correct
each other’s writing can be beneficial for:
- proofreading practice
- seeing other writing styles
- teaching each other details that might
have been missed in lessons
- sharing vocabulary

17. 4. Error Correction – Purpose??
No matter what error correction method is used, the
only way to improve your writing is to USE the feedback
and REWRITE your assignments.
• On a separate piece of paper, rewrite the sentences
or sections that had the worst mistakes. Then,
submit these changes to your teacher.
• Writing is NEVER a “do it once and it’s done”
activity. Writing is a process that requires
continuous practice and improvement.

18. 5. Summarizing and Plagiarism
Your writing must be in your own words. Even if
you use resources (newspapers, books, the
internet) to find information, you MUST rephrase
and rewrite what you read. In other words…
SUMMARIZE, DON’T PLAGIARIZE.

19. 5. Summarizing and Plagiarism
Original Text:
Knossos is one of the major archaeological sites in Greece in
terms of its importance and interest to the visitor. This is
because the mighty city of Minos, one of the first cities on
European soil, was a centre which radiated the light of one of
the most brilliant civilizations of Greek and European
prehistory – the Minoans. The ruins of this city stand as
irrefutable witnesses of its ancient splendour.
Student Version. Is this acceptable?
The city of Knossos is one of the major archaeological sites
in Greece and attracts many visitors each year. This is
because of the famous stories of King Minos, Theseus, the
Minotaur, and Ariadne. It was one of the first cities on
European soil and was the center of one of the most brilliant
civilizations of Greek prehistory - the Minoans. From what
remains of this city, we can learn much about the splendour
of this great ancient civilization.

20. 5. Summarizing and Plagiarism
Original Text:
Knossos is one of the major archaeological sites in Greece in
terms of its importance and interest to the visitor. This is
because the mighty city of Minos, one of the first cities on
European soil, was a centre which radiated the light of one of
the most brilliant civilizations of Greek and European
prehistory – the Minoans. The ruins of this city stand as
irrefutable witnesses of its ancient splendour.
Student Version. Is this acceptable? NO
The city of Knossos is one of the major archaeological
sites in Greece and attracts many visitors each year. This is
because of the famous stories of King Minos, Theseus, the
Minotaur, and Ariadne. It was one of the first cities on
European soil and was the center of one of the most
brilliant civilizations of Greek prehistory - the Minoans.
From what remains of this city, we can learn much about the
splendour of this great ancient civilization.

21. 5. Summarizing and Plagiarism
Original Text:
Knossos is one of the major archaeological sites in Greece in
terms of its importance and interest to the visitor. This is
because the mighty city of Minos, one of the first cities on
European soil, was a centre which radiated the light of one of
the most brilliant civilizations of Greek and European
prehistory – the Minoans. The ruins of this city stand as
irrefutable witnesses of its ancient splendour.
Student Version. Is this acceptable?
Knossos, an archaeologically important ancient city, is very
popular with tourists. This is because of the famous stories of
King Minos, Theseus, the Minotaur, and Ariadne. Knossos
was one of the earliest European cities, and was an
important center for Minoan civilization. From what remains
of this city, we can learn much about the splendour of this
great ancient Greek civilization.

22. 5. Summarizing and Plagiarism
Original Text:
Knossos is one of the major archaeological sites in Greece in
terms of its importance and interest to the visitor. This is
because the mighty city of Minos, one of the first cities on
European soil, was a centre which radiated the light of one of
the most brilliant civilizations of Greek and European
prehistory – the Minoans. The ruins of this city stand as
irrefutable witnesses of its ancient splendour.
Student Version. Is this acceptable? YES
Knossos, an archaeologically important ancient city, is very
popular with tourists. This is because of the famous stories of
King Minos, Theseus, the Minotaur, and Ariadne. Knossos
was one of the earliest European cities, and was an
important center for Minoan civilization. From what remains
of this city, we can learn much about the splendour of this
great ancient Greek civilization.

23. 5. Summarizing and Plagiarism
To avoid plagiarism, use your note-
taking skills:
• Read your information source
completely to understand what it is
saying.
• Read it again and take brief notes
on the important points. Note down
useful vocabulary words.
• Close the original source and use
your notes to write your own
sentences.

24. 5. Summarizing and Plagiarism
Practice 1: Read this short text and
write 2-3 sentences on the same topic
in your own words.
Smoking harms nearly every organ of the
body and diminishes a person’s overall
health. Smoking is a leading cause of
cancer and heart disease. Smoking are also
at higher risk of developing pneumonia and
other breathing problems. A pregnant
smoker is at higher risk of having her
baby born too early and with an abnormally
low birth weight. A woman who smokes
during or after pregnancy increases her
infant’s risk of death from Sudden Infant
Death Syndrome (SIDS).

25. 5. Summarizing and Plagiarism
Practice 2: Read this short text and
write 2-3 sentences on the same topic
in your own words.
One obvious benefit of playing video
games is enhanced manual dexterity. One
study done on surgeons supports this
idea, demonstrating a significant
increase in surgical skill and
reduction in errors among the surgeons
who played games. The same study showed
how video games can also improve
cognitive skills, and another paper
demonstrating that game-based learning
can support scientific thinking.

26. Ok, now you’re ready to write!